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New Connectors for Enteral Feeding Tubes

Tom Hancock, Executive Director, GEDSA

LifelineLetter, January/February 2014

Later this year, the International
Organization of Standardization (ISO) will introduce new design standards for
enteral feeding tube connectors. The Global Enteral Device Supplier Association
(GEDSA), an international working group of enteral feeding tube manufacturers,
distributors, and suppliers, will be introducing new enteral connectors that
conform to these new ISO standards. The introduction of these new connectors is
an important step to improve patient safety, because the current Luer connectors
have a universal design, which allows for connections between devices that were
not intended to connect (for example, feeding tube to a ventilator suction
catheter; feeding tube to a tracheotomy tube; blood pressure monitor to an IV
line, etc.).

While tubing misconnections are less of a
concern for home use, the new, safer connectors will be introduced globally.
They will be for use at home, as well as in institutions, so it is important to
know about the change and understand how it will impact home enteral nutrition.
The new global design standards ensure that all feeding tube and
feeding/administration set manufacturers will use one standard design for the
connector, and it will be universally adopted into practice.

The New Design

The new connector has a unique enteral-specific
design that:

Does not allow it to be connected to any other type of
connector

Provides a locking feature that signals the appropriate
connection has been made and stays in place

Has a female connector end for administration sets and
syringes that fit into the male connector end on your feeding tube

The new standards will impact syringes, as
well as feeding tubes and feeding/administration sets. Enteral-specific syringes
with the new standard female connector will be required to connect to feeding
tubes with the new standard male connector for medication administration,
flushing, and bolus feeding (see illustration).

Stay Connected

The change comes as part of a larger
initiative that will eventually introduce standards for connectors used in other
applications, in addition to enteral nutrition. The initiative is designed to
reduce tubing misconnections by making sure devices for different delivery
systems are not compatible with each other. Tubing misconnections are rare, but
when they do occur they can have damaging and even life-threatening outcomes.

Through our Stay Connected campaign, it is
our goal that by the time the connectors reach the market, everyone who uses an
enteral device is aware of the change, is prepared to transition to the safer
connector, and can successfully adopt it.

Time Line

Manufacturers have worked together to develop
a plan for introducing the new connectors. Transition connectors, or "adapters,”
will be introduced to allow new feeding/administration sets and syringes to
connect to your existing g- and/or j-tube. Feeding/administration sets with
these adapters will start to be distributed in the fourth quarter of 2014. This
will minimize any disruption to consumers and allow you to use the feeding tubes
and feeding/administration sets you have on hand.

The adapter will allow compatibility with
your existing feeding tubes for the introduction period and help synchronize the
introduction of the new connector system. Eventually, these adapters will be
phased out as feeding/administration sets, syringes, and feeding tubes with the
new connector all become readily available.

All major enteral device manufacturers are
expected to comply with the new ISO standards to help ensure compatibility
between feeding tubes and feeding/administration sets.

The Global Enteral Device Supplier
Association (GEDSA) is a nonprofit trade association formed to introduce
international standards for healthcare tubing connectors. Comprised of
manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers worldwide, GEDSA facilitates
information flow about the initiative, which is designed to increase patient
safety and optimal delivery of enteral feeding by reducing the risk of tubing
misconnections. GEDSA invites everyone to stay
connected as the tubing connectors are introduced through a three-phase
communications program—Aware, Prepare, and Adopt—to ensure a successful
transition to safer connectors.

GEDSA partners with
leading experts from the Joint Commission, AAMI, American Society of Parenteral
and Enteral Nutrition, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, Premier
Safety Institute, Novation, and the Oley Foundation.

The
Stay
Connected program
is organized by GEDSA in partnership with leading industry organizations.

This website is an educational resource. It is not intended to provide medical advice or recommend a course of treatment. You should discuss all issues, ideas, suggestions, etc. with your clinician prior to use. Clinicians in a relevant field have reviewed the medical information; however, the Oley Foundation does not guarantee the accuracy of the information presented, and is not liable if information is incorrect or incomplete. If you have questions please contact Oley staff.

Updated in 2015 with a generous grant from Shire, Inc.

This website was updated in 2015 with a generous grant from Shire, Inc. This website is an educational resource. It is not intended to provide medical advice or recommend a course of treatment. You should discuss all issues, ideas, suggestions, etc. with your clinician prior to use. Clinicians in a relevant field have reviewed the medical information; however, the Oley Foundation does not guarantee the accuracy of the information presented, and is not liable if information is incorrect or incomplete. If you have questions please contact Oley staff.